Theater Froe Froe

Theater FroeFroe is an Antwerp puppet theatre company that has spent decades blending figures, live actors, music and video into performances aimed at children and adults alike. The company is based in the Antwerpen-Zuid district, in a building known as Vrije Val II — a former warehouse on the banks of the Scheldt at Namenstraat 7. This once-industrial structure has been converted into a full theatre house, complete with its own performance hall, rehearsal space and a dedicated workshop.

Where does the company come from?

FroeFroe's roots go back to 1984, when the company emerged from an earlier initiative called Figurentheater Black Out, founded in 1980 by brothers Marc and Jan Maillard. It was this earlier project that laid the groundwork for what FroeFroe would become, gradually developing a distinctive style that merges traditional puppetry craft with contemporary theatrical means. Over more than four decades of activity, FroeFroe has built a strong reputation within both the Belgian and international puppet-theatre scene.

What defines the company's repertoire?

FroeFroe describes its own work as a "crossover" — productions sit at the intersection of puppets, figures, objects, video projection, live acting and music performed on stage in real time. This approach gives the company considerable flexibility: shows are staged in intimate small venues as well as in very large halls, festival tents, outdoor locations, and as bespoke special projects. The work is designed for a broad audience, from the youngest viewers to adults, making FroeFroe a family theatre in the fullest sense of the term.

What role does the in-house workshop play?

One of the pillars of FroeFroe's activity is its own internationally recognised workshop (atelier), where the puppets, figures and stage creatures used in its productions are designed and built. Craftspeople working for the company create not only puppet characters but also costumes, set pieces and props. Importantly, the workshop's output is not limited to FroeFroe's own shows — it also produces puppets, costumes and set elements commissioned by television productions and by other theatre companies, underlining the technical and artistic standing of this side of the operation.

Why does the location by the Scheldt matter?

Turning a former harbour warehouse into a theatre house fits a broader pattern of regeneration in Antwerp-South, where old riverside industrial buildings have been given new cultural functions. The Vrije Val II building today houses not only the performance hall but also rehearsal and workshop facilities, allowing the entire creative process — from designing a puppet to opening night — to take place under one roof.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Theater FroeFroe located? The theatre is based at Namenstraat 7 in Antwerp, in the Antwerpen-Zuid district, inside a converted former warehouse on the Scheldt known as Vrije Val II.

How old is the company? The company was established in 1984, growing out of an earlier initiative, Figurentheater Black Out, founded in 1980 by brothers Marc and Jan Maillard.

Who are the performances aimed at? The repertoire targets both children and adults — shows combining puppets, live actors, music and video are staged in venues of very different scale, from small halls to large arenas and tents.

Does the company only stage its own performances? No — FroeFroe also runs its own puppet-making workshop, producing figures, costumes and props used in its own shows as well as commissioned work for television and other theatre companies.